Poll

Government

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – A unique golf cart built by an Indian Land company lived up to its reputation for speed with a mind-blowing, record-setting run Saturday, July 7.
The Spirit of Lancaster County, South Carolina, also known as Tee Time, successfully completed a 98.06-mph, 7.4826-second eighth-of-a-mile (660 feet) run at the Mooresville, N.C., Dragway – fast enough to set a solid bar for the Guinness Book of World Records’ Fastest Electric Golf Cart.

The county’s planning department has found a new director, albeit temporarily.

Penelope Karagounis, one of two planning employees left at the department, will serve as interim director. The move came only days after former county planning director Chris Karres was fired by county officials.

The county’s planning department has found a new director, albeit temporarily.

Penelope Karagounis, one of two planning employees left at the department, will serve as interim director. The move came only days after former county planning director Chris Karres was fired by county officials.

KERSHAW – Employee pay raises and a minor tax hike are part of the town of Kershaw’s budget for 2012-13.

Town Council unanimously passed final reading of the $3.31 million budget at a special meeting Thursday, June 14.

The new fiscal year begins July 1.

Kershaw town residents will face a property tax millage rate of 72.1 mills – a 3.1 percent increase from the existing 69.9 rate. That equates to an increase of $1.70 in the yearly taxes on a $100,000 owner-occupied home.

More financial support for Hope on the Hill and the Olde Presbyterian Church has been built into the city of Lancaster’s 2012-13 budget.

The inclusion came during a discussion of the budget at City Council’s meeting Tuesday, June 12.

Councilwoman Sara Eddins began the talks by listing some of her concerns with the initial draft of the budget. City support for Hope on the Hill and the historic church highlighted Eddin’s budget punch list.

City of Lancaster residents may face a property tax increase for the first time in four years.

The proposed hike is part of the drafted 2012-13 budget city of Lancaster officials are now considering.

The recommendation calls for the city’s millage rate to go from 143.5 to 149.7 mills. That results in about a $24 tax increase on a $100,000 owner-occupied home, said City of Lancaster Finance Director James Absher.

The last time the city raised taxes was for the 2008-09 fiscal year, when the rate went from 140 to 143.5 mills.

Rising insurance costs, extra county personnel and an updated E-911 system weighed heavily on the minds of county officials as Lancaster County Council took its first look at the county’s budget Monday night, May 21.

Council voted 6-0 to approve first reading of the county’s budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2013. Councilman Larry McCullough was not at the meeting.